Australian prime minister Scott Morrison egged by activist on campaign trail

Woman later arrested by police said protest related to refugees detained at Manus Island

A 24-year-old woman who struck Australian prime minister Scott Morrison with an egg while he was out on the general election campaign trail has been charged with assault.

Security guards pounced on the protester, who was wearing a beanie and casual clothes, and dragged her away moments after the attack in southern New South Wales on Tuesday.

New South Wales Police, who initially said the woman was 25-years-old, said they arrested her but they did not identify her nor give any details about her motive.

The woman told reporters moments after the incident that her action “speaks for itself” and she referred to Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea, where Australia has long detained refugees.

She was charged with common assault and drug possession, after police found cannabis on her. The woman was released on bail and ordered to appear in court on 27 May.

The prime minister rubbed his head briefly after being grazed by the egg, which did not break, and then helped an elderly woman who was pushed to the floor in the scuffle.

Mr Morrison said on Twitter that he would “stand up to thuggery” by “cowardly activists who have no respect for anyone”.

Later, he tried to joke about the egging when asked about it, saying he did not want to “over-egg” it.

The incident occurred during a visit by the prime minister to the New South Wales constituency of Albury.

In March, a teenager smashed an egg onto the head of a controversial right-wing Australian lawmaker who had blamed New Zealand's mosque shootings on its immigration programme.

Additional reporting by agencies